The 'Up' line at Sherborne (the one with the white cabling) is bidirectional, whereas the Down is not. Given that there was similar cabling (but not white) immediately alongside in the Down line, then I am wondering whether it was simply part of the start/end of a 'track circuit' immediately past the crossing?

As has been mentioned before the white is just marking up to highlight the cables to tamper drivers so they are aware of them to be that little more careful around them (some would suggest that it just gives them something to aim at!)

As for the quantity of cables it does appear to be a rather ungainly way of managing track circuit tail cables. Given that there is another Insulated Rail Joint adjacent in the Down line it is not possible to cross the cables directly over at that point as that would mean having too many cables on one sleeper. It appears that they have been run to the platform face and then away from the crossing to cross them over one pair at a time at the next available clear sleeper.

With track circuit leads being doubled up (i.e. two per rail for one end of a track) it would suggest that at least the nearest side of the UP line IRJ has a feed end relay fitted thus doubling the number of leads to 4 per rail.

sprayed white by the track quality supervisor (TQS) during a walkout prior to tamping or stoneblowing, marking something to watch out for 'on the night' of on track machine use.Although revolutionary at the time orange pipes actually prevent tamping and cause voids despite being originally used to stop cut cables, hollow bearers are now preferred or snagging- secured to sleepers themselves as shown in originl threadhttp://www.unipartrail.com/assets/j2540 ... re-st1.pdf